Good One

A remarkable new actress has been born. Progressively preposterous, as it became that a 17-year old as special as Sam would go on a hiking trip with her father and his best friend, her acting will keep you watching until the end. Throughout the film, I kept thinking her face and expressions could belong to a precocious young French actress (think Léa Seydoux). Reading her biography, I found out her mother is French. I am certain we will see, and hear, more of Lilly Collias. Other than Collias, the two male leads, James LeGros and Danny Mc Carthy are very convincing in their roles. Both the camerawork and the writing are exceptional.

Watched this at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Wow, 2024 Sundance really had lots of good movies this year because "Good One" really was one of my favorites from the festival. Filmmaker India Donaldson creates a strong debut project with good writing on the themes of generational differences, beautiful camerawork and good performances from the cast members.

Donaldson really captures the essence of nature landscapes, hiking, and conversations between characters and life. The atmosphere, camerawork, and sound designs are relaxing and many of the dialogue moments felt nature and realistic. All of the performances are good and Lily Collias was amazing in her first performance.

This movie really is like a good ASMR or vibe story like something made from Kelly Reichardt. Overall good movie.

Before writing this, I checked my calendar and half-planned a trip to a nearby bird sanctuary on the upcoming weekend. That is the effect Good One had on me, although the makers had different plans with the way the film moves from being about a trio nature-hiking to one about relationship dynamics. The shift is sudden and it's only then you realise that the writer had subtly hinted it before. You'd be lying if you say you were seeing it coming. All the cosiness the film had created till then goes away but you still stare into the nature and wonder about things. Good One has a good effect on you and I recommend it. Lead actor is terrific and so are the other two actors. Together, they have renewed my hiking plans.

India Donaldson makes a smooth, clever, and captivating indie film debut that I thoroughly enjoyed. In just 90 minutes, she weaves a story about three characters that seems straightforward at first glance, but it's so sharp and engaging that you might not catch the deeper layers unfolding beneath the surface.

Sam (Lily Collias) is a sensible seventeen-year-old gearing up for a camping trip with her dad, his best friend, and his friend's son, who's around her age. When a last-minute argument causes the son to bail, Sam ends up alone with the two older guys on their wilderness adventure in upstate New York. As a grounded young woman on the brink of adulthood, she takes the good-natured teasing from the men in stride, but as the trip goes on, the dynamics shift, revealing more about who these men really are.

Though the two men don't often check in on Sam's feelings, they seem decent enough. Chris has always supported his daughter's queer identity, and she keeps in touch with her girlfriend whenever she can get a signal. Matt tells Sam she's wise beyond her years, calling her a rare "good one" compared to other reckless teens.

Scene by scene, Donaldson skillfully reveals the underlying dynamics, aided by the remarkable performance of Collias. For such a young actress, she brings incredible depth to Sam. As the relationships evolve, her introspection shines through, often conveyed more through her gestures and body language than through dialogue, showcasing a level of confidence and skill that's impressive for her age.

A quiet yet powerful film!

The anticipated twist never materialized. The film attempts to blend the tranquility of nature with a forced tension, relying on the setup of a group of men and a young woman isolated in the woods. This approach feels contrived and detracts from what could have been a great movie about a father and daughter learning to adjust with adulthood.

The film presents a viewpoint suggesting that men may have unfavorable traits, while also proposing that women are remarkable with a level of intelligence that may be considered exceptional. We only are introduced to 2 women and about 10 men throughout the film. All 10 coming across as arrogant and capable of anything and the two women as being introverted and rational. This alone sets a stage for the message men=bad and women=good. In my view, the last 20 minutes of the film unequivocally prove the opposite.

The acting was superb across the board, and the mixing, editing, and overall production were done well.